Thursday, 28 January 2016

Welcome to The Passionate Leader

Why Start a Blog?

Like most people the conclusion of a year brought a time of reflection and goal setting for the impending year. I have never enjoyed the 'New Year, New Me' mantra as I have never felt 'finished' with a year to be moving onto the next. However at the end of 2015 I found myself longing for the year to be done so I can start a fresh in 2016. But what was I looking for in 2016?2016 for me is about making a positive impact, both personally and professionally.I have always been a career focused person but in 2015 found myself in my ideal job in a senior role within the business yet still looking for more. I considered an organisation and industry change but these would be nothing more than sideways movements. I want to make an impact and influence change in people. These desires lead to me thinking of a blog, my staff have always praised my leadership and the wonderful experiences under my guidance so maybe I had something to share with others?! So I find myself here putting together my first blog.For as long as I can remember I have always found myself in the leadership position, which made me consider if leadership is a skill that some are just naturally good at or a trait that is ingrained into our personality. Whilst I believe that to be somewhat true I also believe it is a set of skills and mindset that anyone can learn. Early in my career I was very quickly leading teams and naturally the person that others looked to for support and guidance. The more opportunities I got to use this skill the more rewarding it became. The industry and types of people I have lead vary from retail, to call centre (both service and sales) through to large client services teams and account management. Whilst all very different responsibilities the principle of my role was always the same; lead, inspire and develop my teams for the desired outcome.Leadership is not something that should be considered lightly and I believe bears a large amount of responsibility. It could be one of the most important roles that we play in our personal and professional lives. An effective leader has the ability to make a positive impact to the lives of those around them, which is an incredibly rewarding experience. As leaders we must not be afraid to make mistakes as inaction can be the biggest mistake we make. When we do make mistakes ,and we all do as we're human, the most important element is that we own the mistakes and make a commitment to improve going forward.As a young leader I would often wonder if my experiences and challenges were unique to me and at the time there were not the on-line resources we have available now. So why I may not have the Psychology, business or management degree I can share my knowledge and experiences in the hope that it will have an impact on someone else. I won't profess to know all the answers but will try to share the work of others that has also inspired me.There is one statement that I connected with instantly "Be the change you wish to see in the world" - Mahatma Gandhi. As a leader I took great inspiration from the quote as it made realise that my actions can have a positive impact on a person life that can ripple through so many others. This has become my mantra as a leader and a quote I always consider when I am faced with personal and professional challenges.I hope you have enjoyed my first blog and those that will follow.

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